Saving Our Vanishing Heritage
Uncontrolled tourism allows hordes of tourists to climb the ruins at Angkor, Cambodia. Photo: Paul Stevenson
Recommendations
Earlier this year, our Editorial Committee of 24 respected professors, scientists, and conservation and development experts from the international community began work on Saving Our Vanishing Heritage.
Starting with a shared understanding of the threats to global heritage sites, the Committee worked to present a strong case for the protection and development potential of these sites, and to form key recommendations as a framework for action.
Six specific recommendations were formulated to increase the viability and potential for the long-term survival of our global heritage sites in developing countries.
- Multiply International Private-Sector and Government Funding
- Reinforce Our Global Institutions
- Increase Global Awareness of the Crisis
- Promote New Models for Sustainable Preservation and
International Development - Advance Innovative Solutions and Technologies
- Increase Private-Public Partnerships
Investment in the protection and preservation of heritage sites has proven to be one of the most scalable, effective, and targeted means of helping developing nations. Now is the critical time to commit international funds and expertise needed to save our heritage, in the same way that we have committed to combating climate change and the loss of biological diversity as global priorities.
By focusing the dynamic, multi-billion-dollar global industry of heritage tourism and sustainable development on the critical task of preserving the very assets on which they are based, we can help millions rise up out of poverty.
By sharing best practices in site planning and management, historic urban preservation, and integrated community development, we can conserve our most precious global heritage sites and enable major economic growth in new jobs and income for developing countries. A relatively small investment today, combined with global collaboration focused on this crisis, can make all the difference to save this heritage.
To read more, download the full Report on the right.
